# NTSB CHI04LA003: Luscombe 8E, N1909K, Orange City, IA, October 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Orange City, IA - Coordinates: 42.990276, -96.062774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9903&lon=-96.0628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance from the trees while manuevering at a low altitude. A factor was the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed after impacting trees and terrain. There were no witnesses to the accident. The aircraft was found in the northwest corner of a small field about 75 yards away from two farm buildings and a silo. The pilot's father owned the property. The destroyed aircraft was found in a near vertical position with the wreckage contained in a single area. Several trees located approximately 10 yards to the west of the wreckage were missing branches at an estimated height of 10-40 feet AGL. The inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 3, 2003, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N1909K, was destroyed after impacting trees about 6 nautical miles northwest of Orange City, Iowa. The pilot and passenger received fatal injuries. There were no witnesses to the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed from the Orange City Municipal Airport (ORC), Orange City, Iowa, at an unconfirmed time. According to the Civil Air Patrol, an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was reported to be transmitting about 1500. The aircraft wreckage was located at 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. The pilot was issued a Third Class medical certificate on April 29, 2002, with "Must wear corrective lenses" printed in the limitations section. The pilot had a total flight time of approximately 360 hours, and approximately 335 were logged as pilot-in-command. The pilot accumulated approximately 190 hours in a Luscombe. The passenger had an expired student pilot certificate. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The accident airplane was a Luscombe 8E, N1909K, serial number 4636. At the time of the accident, the airplane had a total airframe time of 1,533.4 hours. An annual inspection was performed on May, 2, 2003, at which time the airplane had a total time of 1,521 hours. The airplane was in use for approximately 12.4 hours since the time of the last inspection. All applicable Airworthiness Directives had been complied with. The ELT was inspected and the battery was replaced on May 2, 2003. N1909K was manufactured as a Luscombe 8E in January 1947. In 1983, the airplane was dismantled for storage. In June 1985, the airplane was removed from storage, and underwent restoration as a model 8D at 591 total hours. On June 22, 1989, the airplane was converted back to a model 8E in accordance with Luscombe Service letter dated August 4, 1947. A Continental engine model C-85-12F, serial number 25630-6-12 was installed. The engine had 670.3 hours since major overhaul, and the airplane had 871 hours total time. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The weather at Orange City Municipal Airport (ORC), located approximately six nautical miles southeast of the accident, recorded weather at 1455 central daylight time as: Winds: 330 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 22 knots Visibility: 10 statue miles Ceiling: Clear Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 2 degrees Celsius Altimeter: 29.81 inches of Mercury WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft was found approximately 6 nautical miles northwest of Orange City, Iowa, in the northwest corner of a small field about 75 yards away from two farm buildings and a silo. The pilot's father owned the property. The destroyed aircraft was found in a near vertical position with the wreckage contained in a single area, except for a three-foot portion of the left wing, which was found in a grove of trees approximately 10 yards from the wreckage. A small piece of sheet metal from the tail of the aircraft lodged in a tree approximately 40 feet above ground level (AGL). Several trees located approximately 10 yards to the west of the wreckage were missing branches at an estimated height of 10-40 feet AGL. Several branches were found under or adjacent to the wreckage. The entire empennage was separated from the fuselage, and was located next to the main wreckage. The left wing spar was bent in a "U" shape starting at about mid-wingspan. The leading edge of the right wing was crushed along its entire span. Flight control cables were still attached to the control surfaces. One of the propeller blades was bent aft. At approximately mid-span, the blade was bent rearward and had a forward twist. It had "S" shape bending near the tip. There were chordwise abrasions on the chambered side of the propeller blade. The propeller spinner was crushed aft and exhibited a torsional bend. The altimeter was indicating approximately 1,520 feet. The fuel selector was set to the LEFT TANK position. Engine controls were in the full forward position. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot at the Broadlands Hospital Morgue, Des Moines, Iowa, on October 4, 2003. The Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report. The toxicology results for the pilot were: No Carbon Monoxide detected in Blood No Cyanide detected in Blood No Ethanol detected in Urine 0.039 (ug/ml, ug/g) Diphenhydramine detected in Blood Diphenhydramine detected in Liver Quinine detected in Blood Quinine detected in Liver Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, often known by the trade name Benadryl, and commonly used in over-the-counter cold/allergy preparations. In therapeutic doses, the medication commonly results in drowsiness, and has measurable effects on performance of complex cognitive and motor tasks (e.g. flying an aircraft). Reduced performance has been demonstrated even in individuals who feel normal after ingesting the drug. Over-the-counter antihistamines may also interfere with the normal function of the inner ear, potentially increasing susceptibility to spatial disorientation. Warnings in the small print on packaging of medications containing diphenhydramine indicate the possibility of drowsiness with its use. Quinine is an anti-malarial used in the treatment of malaria and leg cramps. It is an additive in tonic water. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Federal Aviation Administration was a party to the investigation. The aircraft records were released to the co-owner of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1909K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1909K-2004-05-20), registration cancelled 2004-05-20, S/N 4636, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636 - Airframe hours: 1533.4 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wesley Huisman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2003, 12 hours before - Departed: ORC, Orange City, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 7, 2003; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 359 total, 192 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: ORC, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031003028589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031003028589A), Oct 3, 2003: Luscom 8E, Orange City, IA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) The aircraft approached from the west, hit the tops of trees approximately 40 feet above the ground, broke off the outboard 3 feet of the left wing, and… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.